Chapter 6.32
ANIMAL KEEPING
Sections:
6.32.010 Proper care of animals.
6.32.020 Compliance with zoning requirements.
6.32.030 Keeping household animals.
6.32.040 Keeping birds, fowl and rabbits.
6.32.050 Keeping pigs and livestock.
6.32.060 Repealed.
6.32.080 Animal keeper permit required for additional animals.
6.32.100 Animals not classified.
6.32.110 Sales or gifts of animals.
6.32.120 Animal in unattended vehicle.
6.32.130 Rabies suppression, control and quarantine.
6.32.010 Proper care of animals.
A. Any person who harbors any animal within the city shall at all times supply the same with sufficient amounts of food and water or other liquid generally accepted as standard for the age and type of the animal.
B. Any person who harbors any animal within the city shall at all times supply the same with appropriate housing which is safe, sanitary and generally accepted as standard for the age and type of the animal, and shall remove excreta and manure therefrom every day, or as often as is necessary so as not to become a nuisance to any person in the neighborhood. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.020 Compliance with zoning requirements.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it is unlawful for any person to keep or maintain or cause to be kept or maintained any animal, unless the keeping of such is permitted in the particular district as provided in the city’s zoning ordinance. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.030 Keeping household animals.
A. For single-family detached residences in a residential district, a maximum of three dogs, four cats and other similar household animals are permitted, where the total number of such animals in one place of residence shall not exceed 10.
B. For multifamily residences, a maximum of one dog, two cats and other similar household animals are permitted, where the total number of animals in one place of residence shall not exceed five.
C. Household animals being fostered as a part of a nonprofit agency’s program shall not be included for the purposes of determining the number of household animals. The foster program shall be registered with the department and an individual foster animal shall be fostered in a particular residence for a period of no more than six months. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.040 Keeping birds, fowl and rabbits.
A. It is unlawful to keep birds, fowl and rabbits in the city, except:
1. In single-family detached residences in a residential district, a maximum combination of 20 birds or rabbits per legal lot are permitted, provided all of them are kept at least 20 feet from any neighboring house built or used for human habitation. In no case shall more than 10 chickens or other fowl be permitted.
2. For multifamily residences, a maximum total combination of six birds, fowl or rabbits per legal lot is permitted; provided, that all of them are kept at least 20 feet from any neighboring house built or used for human habitation.
B. Roosters or other fowl which constitute a nuisance by their loud cries are not allowed in any zone.
C. No person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, control, or custody of any rabbit, bird, and/or fowl shall permit, allow, or suffer any animal to run or fly at large to go upon the premises of any person in the city.
D. Birds, fowl and rabbits being fostered as a part of a nonprofit agency’s program shall not be included for the purposes of determining the number of household animals. The foster program shall be registered with the department and an individual foster animal shall be fostered in a particular residence for a period of no more than six months. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.050 Keeping pigs and livestock.
A. It is unlawful to keep any pig, hog, sheep, ox, horse, bull, steer, cow, burro, jack, jenny, mule, goat, or similar animal in the city except that such animals may be kept in an O-S district subject to the provisions of BMC 17.70.300.
B. No person owning, having an interest in, harboring or having charge, control, or custody of any pig, hog, sheep, ox, horse, bull, steer, bull, cow, horse, burro, jack, jenny, mule, goat, or similar animal shall:
1. Cause or permit any such animal to be pastured, herded, staked, or tied, in any street, lane, alley, park or other public place, except the city may allow goats on public property, or on private property with a permit from the city, for weed reduction or abatement; or
2. Tie, stake, pasture, or permit the tying, staking or pasturing of any such animal upon any private property within the city without the consent of the property owner or occupant of such property, or in such a way as to permit such animal to trespass upon any street or public place or upon any such private property; or
3. Permit any such animal to be or remain during the night time secured by a stake, or secured in any manner other than by enclosing the animal in a pen, corral, barn or other such sufficient enclosure. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.060 Bee keeping.
Repealed by Ord. 15-04. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.070 Animal offspring.
The offspring of animals shall not be counted toward the minimum allowed number until they are four months old. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.080 Animal keeper permit required for additional animals.
Every person owning or having custody of animals in excess of the number permitted by BMC 6.32.030 and 6.32.040 shall procure an animal keeper permit from the director as set forth at Chapter 6.44 BMC. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.090 Prohibited animals.
The director may prohibit those animals which are permitted by this chapter if findings are made that the keeping of such animals creates an unsanitary condition or other public nuisance. The director’s determination to prohibit any animal permitted by this chapter may be appealed to a hearing officer at an administrative hearing conducted pursuant to Chapter 6.48 BMC. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.100 Animals not classified.
Any animal not specifically classified within this chapter shall be classified by the director based upon a determination as to the probable negative impact of the animal upon the health, safety and general welfare of the community. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.110 Sales or gifts of animals.
A. No person under the age of 18 shall place any dog, cat, puppy or kitten on public display for the purpose of sale, offer for sale, barter or give away upon any street, sidewalk, parking lot, shopping center walkway or other public place, and no transfer of any such animal shall be made in any such place to any person under the age of 18.
B. No person shall display, sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any rabbit, baby chick, duckling or other fowl upon any street, sidewalk, parking lot, shopping center walkway or other public place, and no transfer of any such animal shall be made in any such place to any person. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.120 Animal in unattended vehicle.
A. It is unlawful for any person to leave an animal in an unattended vehicle without adequate ventilation or in such a manner as to subject the animal to extreme temperatures which may adversely affect the animal’s health or welfare.
B. Animal control officers are authorized to remove and take into custody and impound any animal found in an unattended vehicle who appears to be suffering the effects of exposure to extreme temperatures and to place all such animals taken into custody in the city animal shelter if the owner cannot be, upon initial contact, identified and contacted. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).
6.32.130 Rabies suppression, control and quarantine.
A. If it shall appear to the director that any animal has rabies, the director may destroy such animal forthwith pursuant to this chapter, or may hold such animal for further examination or observation for such time as the director may determine to be appropriate.
B. Whenever any animal has been bitten by an animal which has rabies or which exhibits any symptoms of rabies, or which is suspected of having or having been exposed to rabies, the owner or the person having custody of such bitten animal shall immediately notify the director, and shall immediately confine the animal within a secure enclosure and maintain that confinement until it is established that such animal does not have rabies. The director shall have the power to quarantine such animal, or impound it at the owner’s expense if the owner or person having custody of such animal shall fail, refuse, or is unable, in the opinion of the director, to adequately confine such animal immediately, or in the event the owner of such animal is not readily accessible.
C. Whenever it is shown that any animal has bitten any person, the owner shall, upon the order of the director, quarantine such animal and keep it confined at the owner’s expense for a minimum period of 10 days for dogs and cats and 14 days for all other animals, and shall allow the director to inspect and examine such animal at any time during such period of quarantine. Animals quarantined pursuant to this subsection shall not be removed from the premises upon which such animal is quarantined without permission of the director. The director is authorized to impound any animal at the owner’s expense in the event the owner or person having custody of such animal fails or refuses or is unable to so confine such animal. Animals shall remain quarantined until notice is given by the director that such quarantine is terminated.
D. The director may, in her or his discretion, post an appropriate sign on any premises where an animal is quarantined, to warn the public of such quarantine. It is unlawful for any person to remove such a sign without the permission of the director.
E. Whenever the director determines that an epidemic of rabies or any animal disease which threatens the public health or safety exists, or is threatened, he or she shall have the authority to take such measures as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the spread of the disease, including but not limited to the declaration of quarantine against any or all animals in any area of the city, for a period of not more than 120 days. An additional or extended quarantine period may be declared by the city council if such period shall be deemed necessary by the director for the protection and preservation of the public health, peace and safety. Any quarantine declared pursuant to this subsection, other than as restricted in this chapter, shall be upon such conditions as the director may determine. (Ord. 07-72 § 4).